Bellingham United capped off their Evergreen Premiere League season with a 7-0 victory over Yakima United Saturday. Even with the dominating win, the Hammers finished 1 point short of the ESPL WA Championship.
The Seattle Stars took the league championship with a 4-0 victory over Vancouver on Saturday.
Bellingham captain Richard Henderson tallied a hat trick to lead the Hammers past Yakima. He scored on two penalty kicks and on a strike from 18-yards out. Taylor Allen scored twice, while Nick Cashmere and Luke Olney each added a goal.
Raphael Jimenez posted a clean sheet after getting the start as an injury replacement for Bryce Logan.
Bellingham manager Lance Calloway told KPUG the resiliency of his squad stood out after Seattle clinched the EPL title on Saturday. “They were all let down yesterday knowing that we lost that opportunity,” said Calloway. “Our hats off to the Seattle squad, they earned it, but more importantly I was proud of our guys. They put everything on the field, they played the way they normally do. they came with heart and they struck the back of the net really well today.”
Bellingham United players sign autographs following a 7-0 victory
over Yakima United at Civic Stadium. July 30, 2017. Photo: Doug
Lange
Bellingham finishes with a 10-2-2 record and 32 points. Henderson was named the BUFC offensive player of the year. Brady Olen took defensive player of the year honors and Jeremiah Lee won the Macintyre Award for on and off field achievements.
(KPUG – Doug Lange)